Rumble-seat top



oct. 14, 1930.

w. H. CLARK 1,778,584

RUMBLE SEAT TOP Filed May ze, 192s '2 sheets-Sheet 1 W. H. CLARK RUMBLESEAT 'TOP Oct. 14, 1930.

2 sheets-sheet 2 Filed May 26, 1928 m//iam Huffman Clar/f, (W @Notaufna-Patented ct. 14, 193() WILLIAM HUFFMAN CLARK,

PATENT loi-I-lcn OF BALTIMORE, -MARYLAND j RUMBLn-snnr 'ror Application`ined May es,

This invention relates to improvements in rumble seat tops, one` obgectof the invention being the provision of a top and sidev curtain for therumble seat of an automobile which may be easily and quickly put intoposition or stored away when not in use.

Another object of this invention is the provision of a rumble seat backwhich constitutes the closure for the rumble seat recess lo when therumble seat is not in use and also forms a receptacleinto which'the topand side curtains for the rumble seat and a rear support for the topandside curtains may be folded when the top and side curtains are not inuse. Y i

A still further object of this invention is the provision of a device ofthis, character which may be appliedv to various types of niotorcars,which is simple and inexpensive in construction, neat in appearance, andthorou ghly eificient and practical in use.

In the accompanying drawings z- Figure 1 is a side elevation of the rearportion of a roadster embodying the present invention; Y

Figure 2 is a diagrammatic perspective View of the upper portion of thesame, one side curtain being shown as broken away and the top of thepresent invention being shown as in its extended relation to the maintop of the roadster; i

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view of the rumble seat portion of avehicle having my invention applied thereto and showing the top extendedand the off-side curtain in posi-` tion, a portion of the main top beingillustrated;

Figure 4 is a section taken on line 4 4 of Figure 3;

Figure 5 is a rear view of the upper portion of a roadster with thepresent rumble seat top and side curtains in use;

Figure 6 is a sectional view through the adjacent portion of the rumbleseatV recess showing the seatback in closure-forming position, dottedlines showing in back in raised position;

Figure 7 is a fragmentaryview of the rear portion of the top and showingthe multiple hoolrless fastening device for the opening in 1928. SerialNo. 280,898.

the top to permit easy egress and ingress when. the top is in use and atthe same time to render the joint waterproof;

Figure 8 is a vertical sectional view of the seat back casing sho-wingthe top and side curtains and the support for same positioned therein inthe position they assume when the top is not in use;

Figure 9 is a section taken on line 9-9 of Figure 4; and

Figure 10 is a perspective view, partly in section, showing the methodof attaching the rear top support to the casing of the rumble seat back.c

' Referring to the drawings, the numeral 11 designates the body of aroadster, although the same may be of the coupe type, in which the topis rigid. The rear bow l2 carries the top 18 for the main portion of theroadster and the side curtains 14 are each provided with an exteriorengaging flap 14, while extended across the upper portion of the bow 12is a flap 15, the purpose of which will presently appear.

An opening 16 is formed in the rear deck of the body over a compartmentin which a rumble seat 17 is mounted. The opening 16 extendssubstantially the full width of the rear portion of the body and acasing 18 is hinged between the sides of the body below said opening andabove the rear portion of the seat 17 so that it may he swung to asubstantially upright position, as shown in full lines in Figures 2 and3 and in broken lines in F igure 6, to serve as a back for the seat 17,or may beswung tota substantially horizontal position, as shown in fulllines in Figure ,6, to serve as a closure for the opening 16.

That face of the casing 18 which, when the casing is in the ositionshown in full lines in Figures 2 an 8 to serve as the back of the seat17, will hereinafter be termed the front thereof; and that longitudinaledge of the casing which, when the casing is in the position justmentioned, lies ad jacent the rear edge of the seat 17 will here-Vinafter he termed the lower edge thereof.

The means for hingedly mounting the c asL ing 18 inthe body is shown asconsisting lib l nal portions 29 thereof are of a pair of flat membersor arms 19, each carried by an end of the casin i8 adjacent the loweredge of the and having an opening adjacent its free end. and nine 2Oprojecting, respectively, tou'aim-` from the inner surface of one Wallsof the bodjv and througl of the members or bars 19. the pins 19 abovethe rear edge of the seat 17 is substamtialljT t ie saine as ther'isl'ance between the openings in the arras 19 and the lower edge ofthe casing 155.

The easing 18 carries a lock or catch 21 at its upper edge which, `whenthe is position to close the opening 1'5", with the orwad edge ci tosecure the casing in such The casing 18 is open at i a receptacle forthe top and the supporting ineen hereinafter described. tensive with theopeni casing 18, is hinged 'to the lower edge of said casing and isupholstered on its iront tace, at to term a baci; cushion for the seat17.

A catch Q carried by the inner i'ace of the closure adjacent the upperof the latter and enga the upue c( oi" the opening in the eas. 18 tosecure the closure 22 over said opening.

Mounted Within the casino', at its upper corners are blocks 2U,preferably oi" n'ieialT each having thread-ed stud 27 pro' laterallytherefrom through a* one terminal portion 2) a U'shaped traine The stubstl pivots on which the lil-slianerL fran e i swing into or out oi. thecasing, as vwill presentlj7 appear, and nuts s?) on the 'threadedportions of said studs secure the terminal portions 29 of said iran;removal from said studs. ln order e prop-er Width to the U-shaped inebei: 22.0, t ie termient toward one another and then substantiallyparallel to the side members oi said frame as e against to .gir-e tl c.vn

at 3l and, when the frame 30 mored out or" the c; sing 1S into raisedposition, the terminal portions 29 thereof are seated in notches in theupper Wall of said casing, shown in Figure 10. A pair of lugs orprojections 22 are mounted on tle in: er side of the closure Q2 adjacentits upl r edij .Y and spaced, respectively, a suflieient rustance fromits end edges to overlie the terminal portions 29 of the iiranie whenthe latter is in raised position so as to brace said terminalstransversely oic the bodyv of the Vef- Vhiele and secure themdisplacement from the notches or recesses 32 of the casing 18. l

The rear portion 34 of the top for the ruinble seat is attached to thetransverse member of the frame 30 bjY means of lacings lmstei or threads34;', as illustrated in Figure 7, the top having a rear curtaindepending from its rear edge Which is provided With an opening rl`helower edge oi the rear curtain forms a flap 36 adapted to extend, asshown in yFigures 1 and t2, ofer the rear edge of the casing 18, so thatmoisture or rain is directed away therefrom and will not enter therecess of the seat.

The main portion 37 of the top is eX- tended forwardly of the frame andis atA tached bj; means of the fastenings 38 beneath the flap carried bythe top 155 for the front seat, said flap extending over the joint andpreventing the entrj7 of air or Water.

The side edges ei the rumble seat top e1:- tend downwardly and form lapsVIfor the upper edges of the side curtains 4t2, While in order to lermit easjv egress and ingress beneath the top for the rumble seat saidtop, as shown in Figures 5` and Y, has a slit ef;- tending partiallyacross the same from its right hand edge adjacent the frame 3() coreredby a Vflap Ll1 to excludey the Weather therefrom when the members of themultiple hoohless fasteiiei.' carried by the opposite edges oi said slitare closed.. This multiple hoolrless fastener is operable trein theinside so that die portion released thereupon can be moved upwardly topermit the passenger to ent-er or alight.

'lhe forward edges of the side curtains i'or the rumble seat are adaptedto be attached to the bow 12 beneath the iiap 14 of, the side curtainsfor the main seat and also under the lower edge of the iap 1:5, asillustrated in Figure l, While the roar 45 oi' the side curtains for therumble seat are extended and attached to the fastenings 4G carried bythe Jframe 30 and also to the back of the seat, all liap connectionsbeing disposed so to overlap toward the rear of the car and thus shieldthe enclosure from the admission of Win d and rain. When the top for therumble and the support for same are not in use the side curtains L12 maybe used to serve as a, Windshield.

lf'ilhen the top for the rumble seat is not to be used the catch of theclosure 2:2 of the casing 18 is released and said closure is swungforwardlj7 into the position shown in broken lines in Figure 3. '.F'heforward edge of the rumble seat top is then detached roin the rear edgeot the top 13 and folded. The frame is then swung 'forwardly anddownwardly into tue Casin 1S and secured in place by a strap 17 ol whichone end is secured to the rear Wall of the casing adj aeent its lowerend and the other end engageable by a buckle 418 carried by said backWall adjacent its upper end.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection With the drawings,it is evident that by means of atop and side curtain. strue- IIO ture ashere illustrated, coups and roadsters of various types and makes may beprovided with waterproof top and side curtains which maybe readilyplaced in position and as easily stored, as the casing 18, as shown,provides a receptacle therefor and the strap i7 and buckle 48, as shownin Figure 8, will hold the top and side curtains properly housed.

What is claimed is l. A seat back comprising a casing including a rearwall, a top wall and end walls together forming an open-fronted recess,said top wall having adjacent each of its ends a slot extendingtransversely of a portion of its width from its forward edge, asubstantially U-shaped frame having its ends pivoted to swing on a fixedhorizontal axis between the end walls of said back to swing out of saidrecess to seat its side members in'said slots or to swing into saidrecess 'substantially parallel with the rear wall of the latter, a lidfor said recess hinged at its lower edge to the lower portion of saidcasing, and a flexible top carried by said U-shaped frame and extensibleforwardly therefrom, said top being foldable upon said frame and movableinto and out of said recess with the latter.

2. A seat back comprising a casing including a back wall, a pair of endwalls and a top wall forming an open-fronted recess, said top wallhaving adjacent each of its ends a slot extending transversely of a partof its width from its forward edge, a substantially U- sliapedframehaving its end portions extending between and pivotally connectedto the side walls of said casing to swing out of said receptacle into aposition above the upper wall of said casing with its side members insaid slots or to swing into said casing, said U-shaped frame havingmeans adjacent each of its ends engageable with the top wall of saidcasing when said frame is swung above the top wall of said casing tolimit the rearward movement of said frame, a cover for said recesshinged to said casing at the lower portion of said recess and restingagainst the end portions of said frame when said frame is swung abovesaid casing to hold said end portions in said slots, and a flexible tophaving its rear end connected to said U-shaped frame, said flexible topbeing foldable upon said U-shaped frame and adapted to swing with thelatter into said recess.

3. A seat back according to claim 2 wherein a pair of lugs are mountedon the inner face of the cover, one adjacent each end of the latter, tobear, respectively, against the inner sides of the ends of the U-shapedframe when the latter is swung above the top wall of the casing andbrace said ends against lateral movement.

fl. A seat back according to claim 2 wherein the flexible top carried bythe U-shaped frame has a slit extending from one of its side edgesadjacent said frame to a point approximately midway between its sideedges and complemental fastening devices are carried by the oppositeedges of said slit for securing said edges together. i 5. Thecombination with an automobile having a rumble seat recess and a maintop, of a hollow casing mounted in said recess to swing into position tocover the opening to said recess or into position to serve as the backof a rumble seat, said casing having an opening in its front side and aslot in its top wall adjacent each of its ends, a lid for said openinghinged at its lower edge to the lower portion of said casing, a lugcarried by the inner side of each of the end walls of said casing, asubstantially U-shaped frame of which the side members each has ashoulder adjacent its free end and each has an aperture between suchshoulder and its free end, a pair of studs projecting, respectively,from the inner sides of said lugs and extending through the apertures inthe side members of said frame, said frame being of such length as toswing into said casing or above the t-op wall of said casing with itsside members seated in said slots and its shoulders resting on the uppersides of said lugs, and a top having at its forward edge means forconnecting it to the main top and its rear end connected to saidU-shaped frame. In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

VILLIAM HUFFMAN CLARK.

